Animal trap



Nov. 25, 1930. J. E. sPlLMAN ANIMAL TRAP Filed Jan. 2, 1930 al E /w'mw,

Patented Nov. 25, 1930 UNITE STATES JAMES E. srl-Liann, or wAETiaAcE,TENNESSEE;

VANIMALTEAE Application med January 2, 19330. seriaino. 419,045;

The invention relates to traps for catching rodents and the like and hasfor its object the provision of a trap of the self-setting type andemploying a vertically movable trip member including a platform overwhich the animal enters the trap and that is counterweighted to normallyhold it in position to from an entrance to the trap, said trip memberbeing moved downwardly by the Weight of the animal to deposit the animalin a captive chamber in the lower portion of the tra Y FPurther objectsof the invention will be apparent from the detail description of theinvention and from the drawings in which Figure 1 is a` front view ofthe improved animal trap,

Figure 2, a side view,

Figure 3, a sectional view on an enlarged scale on a plane indicated bythe line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4, a similar view on a plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure1, and

Figure 5, a sectional detail on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 ofFigure 3.

In the drawings similar reference characters are used to designatecorresponding parts in all of the views.

As illustrated in the drawings the trap comprises a housing 1 having ahorizontal partition 2 arranged intermediate of its bottom 3 and top 4that divides the interior of the housing 1 into an upper or entrancechamber 5 and a captive` chamber 6. One of the side walls 7 of thehousing 1 is provided with a door opening 8 through which the victimenters the trap, and the entrance 8 may be approached by means of arunway (not shown) or by any other suitable means. Ar-

10 ranged on opposite sides of the entrance opening 8 are grooved slidebearings 9 and slidably mounted in said bearings is a trip member 10consisting of a vertical plate 11 having anopening 12 therein thatalines with the opening 8 in normal position, and a platform 13 that isarranged within an opening 14 in the horizontal partition 2 when innormal position. 15 indicates a lever pivotally mounted as shown at 16on the wall 7 and having one end connected by means of a link ll'with a4laterally projectingf flange 18? on thevertical member 11,` whilefitsfother end isV provided withfa counterweight 15* that normally holdsthertrip member 10in thepositionrshown inthe drawings, the lower ends.'rk of the slide bearings 9 providing stopsvto limit th'eupwardymovement of the trip` member 10i Another of the walls-of? the housing 1,indicated at 19, is provided with, an open#v ing 20` through which is'.slidably mounted a container having a bottom 2f1 and upright walls 22.to receive and holdvictims in'the captive chamber 6, saidV containerbeing rel movable'V through the opening 2O to empty the trap. The'topf 4of thetrapis Aalso pro.- vided` with-a closure 23 -aifordingfaccess tothe interior of theentran'ce chamber/5 for baitingthe'traprorifor anyother purposes.

In operation, bait may be strewn on the partition 2 forming the floor ofthe entrance chamber 5 to attract the victims and as they enter the trapthrough the opening 8 onto the platform 10 the weight of the animallowfers the platform against the counterweight 15a and the animal inendeavoring to escape is entrapped in the captive chamber 6 from whenceit may be removed by removal of the container therein through theopening 20,

What is claimed is 1. In an animal trap, a housing having an entranceopening in one of its walls, a horizontal partition in said housingdividing it into an entrance chamber and a captive chamber,V saidpartition provided with an opening contiguous to the entrance opening, atrip member having an upright portion slidably mounted over saidentrance opening and having an opening alined with said entranceopening, and a horizontal platform movable through the opening in thepartition, and means to hold said trip member elevated with the platformalined with the partition, said uprightportion providing a closure forthe entrance opening when the platform is depressed by a victim. 95

2. In an animal trap, a housing having an entrance opening in one of itswalls, a horizontal Vpartition in said housing dividing it into anentrance chamber and a captive chamber and having an opening thereincontiguous to the entrance opening, slide bearings on said Walls onopposite sides of said entrance opening, an angular trip member slidablymounted in said bearings and including an upright plate having anopening therein alined With said entrance opening in one position of themember and closing said entrance opening in another position, ahorizontal platform on said trip member movable through the opening inthe partition and normally alined therewith and means to hold said tripmember in normal position with the entrance opening unobstructed and theplatform raised and on the same plane With the partition.

3. In an animal trap, a housing, a horizontal partition in said housingdividing its interior into an entrance chamber and a captive chamber, atrip mechanism communicating through said partition and having aplatform normally alined With the partition, a vertically slidablemember on said trip mechanism and having an opening therein, the housingprovided With an entrance opening normally alined With the irstmentioned opening, said vertically slidable member providing a closurefor the last mentioned opening when it is moved to a lowered position bythe Weight of a victim, and gravity actuated means to hold the tripmechanism in ele vated position with the openings alined.

In testimonyY whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES E. SPILMAN.

